Apologies to Mr. Gump... :-)
Another year another LegalTech New York conference. I've been coming to this show for the better part of the last decade and while it would be overstating things to say, "I always look forward to LegalTech,"...I guess I actually do. For me, LegalTech is always kind of a barometer for what the story will be for legal technology until we reach August and the ILTA Conference. There is such an over abundance of topics and technology that it can be easy to get lost in all of the noise. Each year there always seems to be something new to catch the majority's interest and I think that's what entertains me the most hen getting mentally prepared for the experience. I never know if I'll get a fantastic chocolate covered toffee or crunchy nut...or bite into some oddly paired fruit jelly and chocolate combo that makes me cringe.
Ten years ago were the days of chocolate covered almonds...you couldn't walk ten feet on the exhibitor floor without bumping into a time and billing or document management vendor. I think three years ago was when I got a box of coconut filled candies; good for a quick snack, but they get tiresome after too many. SharePoint was the talk of the town and how it was going to take over the world of legal technology. While SharePoint has definitely arrived and is here to stay, it by no means has taken over...especially when firms really get into what document and records management according to Microsoft is all about. Then two years ago there was Social Media at LegalTech; delicious, but messy, caramels. I love caramels just as I really enjoy theorizing about the benefits social media can have in a law firm. But, I don't think the industry was quite ready for the discussion then...seems kind of like we've arrived now. A quick glance at this year's agenda shows that, like last year, the big candy in the box is eDiscovery. This one seems to have legs as far as trade shows go, and I suspect we'll continue to see it dominate for a few more years. Good thing I like nougat inside my chocolate too.
So, while eDiscovery looks to be the story again this year and will let me enjoy that chewy center, I'll keep my ear to the ground looking for that elusive mini Heath Bar and its toffee crunch. Should I happen to find any, and if you like crunchy chocolate, check back here for updates throughout the show.
